Does my wife have access to VA benefits for her Alzheimer medication if she is not military?

Question: Does my wife have access to Veteran Affairs benefits for her Alzheimer medication if she is not military?

Answer: Barring rare exceptions, the VA does not give medical benefits for spouses or dependents, VA Sierra Nevada Health Care spokesman Darin Farr said. A rare case where children are covered is for spina bifida, which has been linked to a parent’s exposure to Agent Orange, a chemical used in battle during the Vietnam and Korean wars, Farr said.

Another exception is the survivor benefit plan, an annuity payment plan for military personnel pay after retirement, he said.